Receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement

ABSTRACT

A receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement is constructed to include a sole having two bottom open chambers, and two wheel assemblies respectively mounted in the bottom open chambers, each wheel assembly including a mounting frame fixedly mounted in one bottom open chamber, a wheel holder, the wheel holder having a first pair of upright side lugs respectively pivoted to the mounting frame for enabling the wheel holder to be turned between the extended position and the received position and a second pair of upright side lugs holding a pair of wheels, a spring member provided between the mounting frame and the wheel holder and adapted for holding the wheel holder in the extended position, and lock means adapted for locking the wheel holder between the extended position where the wheels are disposed outside the sole for roller-skating and the received position where the wheels are received inside the corresponding bottom open chamber and the wheel holder close the corresponding bottom open chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a roller skate and, more particularly, to a receivable wheel mounting arrangement for roller skate, which closes the bottom open chambers of the sole of the shoe to protect the wheels and internal parts against dust when set in the received position.

[0002] Various roller-skating shoes have been disclosed, and have appeared on the market. These roller-skating shoes include two types, i.e., one with detachable wheel assemblies, the other with receivable wheel assemblies. The former comprises a shoe body, the shoe body having two bottom open chambers in the sole thereof, and two wheel assemblies detachably installed in the bottom open chamber of the shoe body. It is inconvenient to install the wheel assemblies in the bottom open chambers of the shoe body for roller-skating, or to detach the wheel assemblies from the bottom open chambers of the shoe body for enabling the shoe body to function as a regular shoe. The later comprises a shoe body, the shoe body having two bottoms open chambers in the sole thereof, and two wheels pivoted to the bottom open chambers of the sole of the shoe body and alternatively set between the extended (operative) position and the received (non-operative) position. These prior art designs have numerous drawbacks as outlined hereinafter.

[0003] When walking after the wheel assemblies having received in the bottom open chamber of the shoe body, dust tends to be accumulated in the bottom open chambers of the shoe body, thereby causing the movable parts of the wheel assemblies to be covered with dust or stuck.

[0004] Because of the presence of the bottom open chambers in the sole of the shoe body, the ground contact area of the sole of the shoe body is greatly reduced, and the shoe body may slip on the ground when walking.

[0005] Because the shoe body has no brake means, it is dangerous when roller-skating at a high speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention has been accomplished to provide a receivable wheel mounting arrangement for roller skate, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is one object of the present invention to prove a receivable wheel mounting arrangement for roller skate, which enhances the ground gripping power of the shoe when set in the received position. It is another object of the present invention to provide a receivable wheel mounting arrangement for roller skate, which closes the bottom open chambers of the sole of the shoe to protect the wheels and internal parts against dust when set in the received position. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a receivable wheel mounting arrangement for roller skate, which has brake means for stopping the wheels from running when the user tilted the shoe during roller-skating. According to one aspect of the present invention, the receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement comprises a sole having two bottom open chambers, and two wheel assemblies respectively mounted in the bottom open chambers. Each wheel assembly comprises a mounting frame fixedly mounted in one bottom open chamber, a wheel holder, the wheel holder having a first pair of upright side lugs respectively pivoted to the mounting frame for enabling the wheel holder to be turned between the extended position and the received position and a second pair of upright side lugs holding a pair of wheels, a spring member provided between the mounting frame and the wheel holder and adapted for holding the wheel holder in the extended position, and lock means adapted for locking the wheel holder between the extended position where the wheels are disposed outside the sole for roller-skating and the received position where the wheels are received inside the corresponding bottom open chamber and the wheel holder close the corresponding bottom open chamber. According to another aspect of the present invention, the locking means comprises a fixed locating rod fixedly fastened to one downward lug of the mounting frame, a barrel suspended between the downward lugs of the mounting frame and sleeved onto the fixed locating rod and adapted for engaging the front retaining notch and rear retaining notch of one upright side lug of the wheel holder alternatively, the barrel having an inner thread in one end thereof, a compression spring mounted in the barrel and stopped against the fixed locating rod, and a pres rod inserted through a side hole of the sole and inserted through an axle hole on one downward lug of the mounting frame opposite to the fixed locating rod and threaded into the inner thread of the barrel and adapted for pressing by hand to disengage the barrel from the upright side lugs of the wheel holder. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the wheel holders of the wheel assemblies each comprise an anti-skid face layer, which is disposed in flush with the bottom sidewall of the sole to close the corresponding bottom open chamber of the sole when the wheel holder of the respective wheel assembly is moved to the extended position. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the wheel holders of the wheel assemblies each comprise at least one friction-resistant stop flange adapted for functioning as brake means for the shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is perspective view of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one wheel assembly constructed according to the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view of a part of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention showing the wheel holders of the wheel assemblies locked in the received position.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention showing the wheel holders of the wheel assemblies locked in the extended position.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the friction-resistant stop flange of the wheel holder of one wheel assembly stopped against the ground.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an alternate form of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sole, referenced by 1, comprises two bottom open chambers 11 disposed near the front and rear sides thereof. Two wheel assemblies 2 are respectively mounted in the bottom open chambers 11 of the sole 1. Each wheel assembly 2 comprises a mounting frame 21, a wheel holder 22 pivoted to the mounting frame 21 and turned relative to the mounting frame 21 between the extended (operative) position and the received (non-operative) position, a spring member 24 provided between the mounting frame 21 and the wheel holder 22 and adapted for holding the wheel holder 22 in the extended position, and a locking device adapted for locking the wheel holder 22 in the extended or received position.

[0015] The mounting frame 21 is fixedly mounted in one bottom open chamber 11 of the sole 1, comprising two downward lugs 211 downwardly extended from two opposite lateral sides thereof and arranged in parallel, and two front retaining notches 214 bilaterally disposed in the front edge thereof. The downward lugs 211 each comprise a pivot hole 212 and an axle hole 213.

[0016] The wheel holder 22 is a slightly smoothly arched member of substantially U-shaped cross section, comprising an anti-skid face layer 226, a friction-resistant stop flange 227 transversely disposed at one end thereof, two first upright side lugs 221 bilaterally disposed near the front end thereof, two second upright side lugs 224 bilaterally spaced between the first upright side lugs 221 and the friction-resistant stop flange 227, a pair of wheels 225 pivotally supported between the second upright side lugs 224. The first upright side lugs 221 each comprise a pivot hole 222, a front retaining notch 223 a, and a rear retaining notch 223 b.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the aforesaid locking device comprises a barrel 26, the barrel 26 having an inner thread 261 in one end thereof, a compression spring 27 inserted into the inside of the barrel 26, a fixed locating rod 25 inserted into one end of the barrel 26 remote from the inner thread 261 and stopped against one end of the compression spring 27, and a press rod 28 threaded into the inner thread 261 of the barrel 26 and stopped against the other end of the compression spring 27. A pivot pin 23 is mounted in the pivot holes 222 of the upright side lugs 221 of the wheel holder 22 and the pivot holes 212 of the downward lugs 211 of the mounting frame 21 to secure the wheel holder 22 to the mounting frame 21, for enabling the wheel holder 22 to be turned about the pivot pin 23 between the extended position and the received position. The spring member 24 is mounted on the pivot pin 23, having a protruded middle portion 243 stopped at the inner side of the wheel holder 22, and two hooked portions 242 respectively extended from the two end pieces 241 thereof and hooked in the front retaining notches 214 of the mounting frame 21. After installation, the spring member 24 holds the wheel holder 22 in the extended position. The aforesaid locking device is provided between the upright side lugs 221 of the wheel holder 22. The fixed locating rod 25 is fixedly fastened to the axle hole 213 of one downward lug 211 of the mounting frame 21 by a tie screw and inserted into one end of the barrel 26 remote from the inner thread 261 and stopped against one end of the compression spring 27 in the barrel 26. The press rod 28 is inserted through a side through hole 12 of the sole 1 into the axle hole 213 of the other downward lug 211 of the mounting frame 21, and then threaded into the inner thread 261 of the barrel 26 and stopped against the other end of the compression spring 27. When assembled, the barrel 26 of the locating device is forced into engagement with the front retaining notch 223 a or rear retaining notch 223 b of one upright side lug 221 of the wheel holder 22 to lock the wheel holder 22 in the extended or received position.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, when the wheel holder 22 set in the received position, the barrel 26 of the locating device is maintained in engagement with the rear retaining notch 223 b of one upright side lug 221 of the wheel holder 22 to lock the wheel holder 22 in the received position, and the anti-skid face layer 226 of the wheel holder 22 is disposed in flush with the bottom sidewall of the sole 1, and therefore the shoe functions as a normal shoe and enhances the ground gripping power of the shoe. At this time, the wheels 225 are well protected inside the bottom open chambers 11 of the sole 1 and kept from sight.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 5, when pressed the press rod 28 with the fingers to force the barrel 26 backwards against the compression spring 27 relative to the fixed locating rod 25, the barrel 26 is disengaged from the rear retaining notch 223 b of the corresponding upright side lug 221 of the wheel holder 22 to unlock the wheel holder 22, enabling the wheel holder 22 to be turned about the pivot pin 23 from the received position to the extended position by the spring power of the wheel holder 22. When released the fingers from the press rod 28, the compression spring 27 pushes the barrel 26 outwards, thereby causing the barrel 26 to be forced into engagement with the front retaining notch 223 a of the corresponding upright side lug 221 of the wheel holder 22 to lock the wheel holder 22 in the extended position. At this time, the wheels 225 are disposed outside the sole 1 for roller-skating.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 6, when roller-skating, the user can tilt the shoe forwards to force the friction-resistant stop flange 227 of the wheel holder 22 of the front sided wheel assembly 2 against the ground to stop moving. I

[0021] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, only the wheel holder 22 of the front-sided wheel assembly 2 has a friction-resistant stop flange 227 adapted for stopping the wheels 225 from moving. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the wheel holders 22 of the two wheel assemblies 2 each have a friction-resistant stop flange 227. A prototype of receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1-7. The receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0022] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement comprising a shoe, said shoe having a sole, said sole having two bottom open chambers respectively disposed in a bottom sidewall thereof, and two wheel assemblies respectively mounted in said bottom open chambers, said wheel assemblies each comprising a mounting frame fixedly mounted in one bottom open chamber of said sole, a wheel holder pivoted to said mounting frame and holding a pair of wheels and turned between an extended position where said wheels are disposed outside the corresponding bottom open chamber of said sole, and a received position where said wheels are received inside the corresponding bottom open chamber, and a spring member provided between said mounting frame and said wheel holder and adapted for holding said wheel holder in said extended position, wherein said wheel holder comprises two first upright side lugs bilaterally disposed near a first end thereof and respectively pivoted to said mounting frame, two second upright side lugs bilaterally disposed near a second end thereof and adapted for supporting said wheels, and an anti-skid face layer, which is disposed in flush with the bottom sidewall of said sole to close the corresponding bottom open chamber of said sole when said wheel holder is moved to said extended position.
 2. A receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement comprising a shoe, said shoe having a sole, said sole having two bottom open chambers respectively disposed in a bottom sidewall thereof, and two wheel assemblies respectively mounted in said bottom open chambers, said wheel assemblies each comprising a mounting frame fixedly mounted in one bottom open chamber of said sole, said mounting frame comprising two downward lugs arranged in parallel at two sides, a wheel holder pivoted to the downward lugs of said mounting frame by pivot means and holding a pair of wheels and turned between an extended position where said wheels are disposed outside the corresponding bottom open chamber of said sole, and a received position where said wheels are received inside the corresponding bottom open chamber, a spring member provided between said mounting frame and said wheel holder and adapted for holding said wheel holder in said extended position, and lock means adapted for locking said wheel holder between said extended position and said received position, wherein said wheel holder comprises two first upright side lugs bilaterally disposed near a first end thereof and respectively pivoted to said mounting frame, said first upright side lugs each having a front retaining notch adapted for receiving said locking means to hold said wheel holder in said extended position and a rear retaining notch adapted for receiving said locking means to hold said wheel holder in said received position, and two second upright side lugs bilaterally disposed near a second end thereof and adapted for supporting said wheels; said locking means comprises a fixed locating rod fixedly fastened to one downward lug of said mounting frame, a barrel suspended between the downward lugs of said mounting frame and sleeved onto said fixed locating rod and adapted for engaging the front retaining notch and rear retaining notch of one upright side lug of said wheel holder alternatively, said barrel having an inner thread in one end thereof, a compression spring mounted in said barrel and stopped against said fixed locating rod, and a pres rod inserted through a side hole of said sole and inserted through an axle hole on one downward lug of said mounting frame opposite to said fixed locating rod and threaded into the inner thread of said barrel and adapted for pressing by hand to disengage said barrel from the upright side lugs of said wheel holder.
 3. The receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheel holders of said wheel assemblies each comprise an anti-skid face layer, which is disposed in flush with the bottom sidewall of said sole to close the corresponding bottom open chamber of said sole when the wheel holder of the respective wheel assembly is moved to said extended position.
 4. The receivable roller skate wheel mounting arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wheel holders of said wheel assemblies each comprise at least one friction-resistant stop flange. 